Indian Air Force Shoots Down Pakistani AWACS from Record Distance of 314 km, Russian Analyst Calls It “Record-Breaking”

New Delhi: During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully intercepted and destroyed a Pakistani AWACS aircraft from a distance of 314 kilometers using the S-400 ‘Triumph’ missile system. The action, hailed as a world-record for a long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) kill, was confirmed by Moscow-based security strategist Alexey Mikhailov Petrenko, who described the operation as technically precise and fully consistent with the capabilities of the S-400 system.

Operation Details

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh stated that the 40N6E missile was fired from an S-400 unit stationed in Punjab, targeting the Sab 2000 ‘Eri’ AWACS aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force flying over Dinga in Punjab province. Petrenko noted that the strike aligned with proven S-400 capabilities, similar to the Russian S-300V4 system’s 217 km long-range interception of a Ukrainian fighter jet during the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.

Strategic Impact

The operation reportedly delivered a major setback to Pakistan Air Force’s command-and-control capabilities, giving Indian fighter jets a tactical advantage. According to NDTV reports dated December 6, a Pakistani JF-17 fighter was also destroyed near Sialkot from a distance of 200 km during the same operation.

Over the four-day-long Operation Sindoor, the Pakistani Air Force suffered heavy losses, with six aircraft reportedly destroyed by S-400 systems. Additionally, a BrahMos missile strike targeted an AWACS stationed at Bholari Airbase. Defense analysts estimate the operation caused Pakistan over $500 million in losses and reduced its airborne early warning capacity by approximately 22%.

Praise for Indian Air Force Precision

Petrenko lauded the IAF for its strategic discipline and operational skill, highlighting the use of “shoot-and-scoot” tactics and low radar exposure to avoid enemy anti-radiation missiles. He emphasized, “These were not coincidental strikes but highly precise military actions executed under challenging conditions. India manufactures advanced weaponry, but the Indian Air Force employs it with extraordinary efficiency.”

This operation has reinforced India’s long-range air defense capabilities and demonstrated the strategic effectiveness of the S-400 system in real-world combat scenarios.